The Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) is an interparliamentary body, set up upon
the initiative of the Hellenic Parliament. You are hereby presented with a brief introduction to the
profile of the I.A.O., consisting of the organization's background, objectives, structure and turning
point.
Background of the I.A.O.
The fundamental basis of the I.A.O. is expressed in the Manifesto of Participants of the Conference
convened by the Hellenic Parliament in Halkidiki, Greece, on the subject: 'Orthodoxy in the New
European Reality'. According to this, Orthodoxy in its social, historical and spiritual sense
constitutes a common historical cultural tradition and religious expression for approximately half of
the population of Europe.
In a context of historical changes in progress throughout Europe (the fall of the communist
regimes in Central Eastern Europe, the Maastricht Treaty in Western Europe) personalities from
Europe, who participated in the 1993 Conference held by the Hellenic Parliament, detected the need
for the presence of Orthodoxy, as a common cultural expression of a large number of European
citizens, in the shaping of contemporary Europe. Thus, the joint cultural reference of Orthodoxy was
sought through the I.A.O., with the participation of Orthodox in faith deputies from 24 countries.
Parliamentary delegations from 20 Member Parliaments of the organisation participate, namely:
Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia,
Greece, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, the Federation of Russia, Serbia
and Montenegro, Slovakia and Ukraine, as well as, groups of Members of Parliaments from:
Australia, the Palestinian Authority, Uganda and the U.S.A.
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